Universal, based in southeast England, operates from 201 sites and 89 commercial vans and specialises in tyre services as well as general car maintenance and repairs.

Halfords is targeting having over 550 garages in the UK. The Universal deal takes the total to 374.

(This story has been refiled to correct figure in second paragraph to 20 from 201)

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by David Goodman)